The Resource Centre holds all our documents (briefings, consultation responses, press releases and reports). Signed-in members also have access to projects. You can search the Resource Centre by topic or by type of document.
Resources
Resources
National Initiatives on Skills and Diversity for the Transport Sector
June, 2022
This resource brings together national initiatives on skills and diversity with relevance to the transport sector. This is the only such resource for the transport sector. It can help organisations looking to diversify their workforce, help to raise the profile of careers in transport to the next generation and support inclusion and wellbeing in the current transport workforce.
Topic:
Allowing non-physical guided transport modes to be authorised by a Transport and Works Act order
May, 2022
Our response to a DfT consultation seeking changes in planning legislation to allow for the use of non-physical guidance systems in orders made under the Transport and Works Act. Non-physical guided transport modes could include simple sensor systems to detect road markings and direct a vehicle or more complex guidance systems such as those that read the surrounding environment to direct a vehicle.
Consulting body:
Department for Transport
Document:
Topic:
Transport labour market and skills - call for ideas
May, 2022
Urban Transport Group response to the DfT's Call for Ideas and Evidence on Transport labour market and skills.
Consulting body:
Department for Transport
Topic:
Mobility as a Service Code of Practice
May, 2022
UTG response to the Department for Transport consultation on a Mobility as a Service Code of Practice.
Consulting body:
Department for Transport
Topic:
Public Transport in towns and cities
March, 2022
UTG evidence to Lords Built Environment Committee on Public Transport in Towns and Cities
Consulting body:
Built Environment Committee
Topic:
National Bus Strategy - one year on
March, 2022
UTG response to Transport Select Committee inquiry on the National Bus Strategy.
Consulting body:
Transport Select Committee
Topic:
Equitable Future Mobility: Ensuring a just transition to net zero transport
March, 2022
This report, jointly prepared by Arup and Urban Transport Group, is intended as a starter for collaborative discussions between authorities, operators and users about the human dimension of the decarbonisation agenda, aiming to make our future transport system available, accessible, affordable and acceptable for all (also know as the Four A's).
The report presents a checklist for assessing the role of future mobility in creating a more equitable travel experience and informing discussions about future policy, infrastructure and services.
It says that embracing new technologies will play a key role in decarbonising transport and help towns and cities to achieve net zero emissions – but that steps must also be taken to ensure that the way new technologies are applied does not marginalise some groups or reinforce existing inequalities.
Topic:
The future of e-scooters
March, 2022
This report sets out first principles to consider in any regulatory reforms around micromobility, before moving on to detailed recommendations on, first, powers to control the micromobility rental market and, second, on construction and use standards specifically for e-scooters, given concerns around the private e-scooter market.
Topic:
Funding a better future for urban transport
March, 2022
This briefing explains that the immediate challenge on funding is the Government’s intention that there will be no further additional revenue funding beyond September 2022. Government should use the next six months to put in place a long term, enhanced and devolved approach to funding bus services.
Strategic analysis of current bus safety issues
February, 2022
This report from the Transport Safety Research Centre at Loughborough University reviews the regulatory framework for bus safety in England outside London and makes comparisons with the safety regime in place both elsewhere and for other modes. It also includes the findings from interviews with Local Transport Authorities and other key bodies on their experience of the current bus safety regime. The report finds there is a strong case for significant reform including around standards and the organisation and resourcing of leadership and oversight on bus safety.
Topic:
Pages
National Initiatives on Skills and Diversity for the Transport Sector
June, 2022
This resource brings together national initiatives on skills and diversity with relevance to the transport sector. This is the only such resource for the transport sector. It can help organisations looking to diversify their workforce, help to raise the profile of careers in transport to the next generation and support inclusion and wellbeing in the current transport workforce.
Topic:
Funding a better future for urban transport
March, 2022
This briefing explains that the immediate challenge on funding is the Government’s intention that there will be no further additional revenue funding beyond September 2022. Government should use the next six months to put in place a long term, enhanced and devolved approach to funding bus services.
The threat to public transport in the city regions
February, 2022
Topic:
The role of LRT during and after the pandemic
May, 2021
This factsheet sets out examples and statistics on the key role that light rail has played in getting key workers where they need to be during the pandemic and the essential role it will have in building back better afterwards.
Topic:
Briefing on Light Rail
December, 2020
This updated briefing on Light Rail Systems answers some of the most frequently asked questions about this mode of transport, and presents the benefits that Light Rail can bring.
Document:
Topic:
Spending review 2020 analysis
December, 2020
Topic:
Funding and delivering bus services during the pandemic and beyond
November, 2020
This document proposes a two stage approach to ensuring the most efficient use of public funding to provide the best possible bus service during the pandemic, whilst setting in place the foundations for reversing the decline in bus use that was taking place before the pandemic.
Topic:
Bus Policy
November, 2020
This updated briefing looks at why buses matter and how bus policy works. It explains the significant challenges facing the sector (including the COVID-19 pandemic) and how city regions are backing the bus. It also sets out how the 2017 Bus Services Act could help make bus services better.
Document:
Topic:
Pages
Equitable Future Mobility: Ensuring a just transition to net zero transport
March, 2022
This report, jointly prepared by Arup and Urban Transport Group, is intended as a starter for collaborative discussions between authorities, operators and users about the human dimension of the decarbonisation agenda, aiming to make our future transport system available, accessible, affordable and acceptable for all (also know as the Four A's).
The report presents a checklist for assessing the role of future mobility in creating a more equitable travel experience and informing discussions about future policy, infrastructure and services.
It says that embracing new technologies will play a key role in decarbonising transport and help towns and cities to achieve net zero emissions – but that steps must also be taken to ensure that the way new technologies are applied does not marginalise some groups or reinforce existing inequalities.
Topic:
The future of e-scooters
March, 2022
This report sets out first principles to consider in any regulatory reforms around micromobility, before moving on to detailed recommendations on, first, powers to control the micromobility rental market and, second, on construction and use standards specifically for e-scooters, given concerns around the private e-scooter market.
Topic:
Strategic analysis of current bus safety issues
February, 2022
This report from the Transport Safety Research Centre at Loughborough University reviews the regulatory framework for bus safety in England outside London and makes comparisons with the safety regime in place both elsewhere and for other modes. It also includes the findings from interviews with Local Transport Authorities and other key bodies on their experience of the current bus safety regime. The report finds there is a strong case for significant reform including around standards and the organisation and resourcing of leadership and oversight on bus safety.
Topic:
Continuing COVID Funding Support for Urban Public Transport
February, 2022
This report finds that if Government’s Covid-related financial support to urban public transport outside London ends (in March 2022), buses would soon be less frequent and more expensive, and patronage would be substantially lower than pre-Covid levels, potentially up to 30% lower.
Further financial support however would halt the decline of bus (and light rail) patronage and has the potential to get patronage levels back towards their pre-pandemic levels. It would also create the opportunity for Government to reform its approach to supporting public transport funding so it can be used to the best effect.
The report recommends that the Government’s Covid-related support to urban public transport is maintained for at least a further 12 months.
Topic:
Delivering a greener future - Urban freight and the decarbonisation of the city regions
January, 2022
Our city regions rely on the smooth movement of goods to keep supermarket shelves stocked, hospitals supplied with medicine and other equipment, to deliver construction materials and support thriving economies.
However, the current dominance of road freight, produces many negative impacts for our cities.
This report sets out the role for freight in decarbonising city regions and the need for freight to play its part in creating urban areas that are greener, fairer, happier, healthier and more prosperous places.
Topic:
Making rail reform work for people and places in the city regions
December, 2021
This statement calls for rail reform to both build on the success of the devolution of rail powers which has already taken place, and for structured and meaningful involvement for the city regions in how rail reform plans unfold.
It sets out a range of scenarios for how the proven benefits of devolving further responsibilities for rail could be extended to more passengers and places. These include options for extending and deepening local control and accountability for both rail services, infrastructure and investment.
Topic:
Fully charged: Powering up the potential of e-bikes in the city regions
November, 2021
This report, produced by consultants Steer for the Urban Transport Group, aims to quantify and understand the potential to increase e-bike uptake in the UK, particularly in the city regions, and the benefits that could be realised as a result. It breaks new ground by presenting different scenarios on the potential for e-bikes to achieve mode shift from cars and taxis, and to deliver environmental and economic benefits.
The report also aims to support urban transport authorities to consider practical approaches to increasing e-bike uptake.
Topic:
Leading Light: What Light Rail can do for City Regions
October, 2021
This report, produced by Steer for the Urban Transport Group, shows how Britain’s light rail systems have supported economic growth in the areas that they serve, promoted social inclusion and led to environmental gain, including a reduction in carbon emissions.
It argues there is a need to maintain the connectivity provided by light rail as the economies of the towns and cities that light rail serves recover from the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. It says investment in maintenance and renewal will continue and potentially enhance the benefits that light rail brings and that a stable Government policy and funding environment will help promoters come forward with light rail proposals that will bring further economic, societal and environmental benefits.
Back the Bus to Level Up
September, 2021
This report makes the case for bus revenue funding and reform of how it is provided.
It aims to arrive at a realistic assessment of the revenue funding that will be needed to support the ambitious transformation in bus services envisaged by the National Bus Strategy. It also looks at how the way in which funding is provided could be reformed in order to offer better value for public money and enable it to be targeted in the most effective way locally.
The report:
- Reviews the overall case for revenue support for bus.
- Uses our Metropolitan Bus Model to test different revenue funding scenarios for their impact on service levels, fares and patronage.
- Makes the case for reform of the way in which revenue support for buses is provided.
Topic:
Building back better on urban transport
June, 2021
As the network of transport authorities serving the largest city regions in England, we worked together to keep the wheels of public transport turning during the lockdown so that key workers could get to where they needed to be.
In this paper we set out how, with the right policy framework from Government, we can meet the challenge of ramping up public transport and prioritising cycling and walking to support a green and just recovery.
(Updated version June 2021)
Pages
Allowing non-physical guided transport modes to be authorised by a Transport and Works Act order
May, 2022
Our response to a DfT consultation seeking changes in planning legislation to allow for the use of non-physical guidance systems in orders made under the Transport and Works Act. Non-physical guided transport modes could include simple sensor systems to detect road markings and direct a vehicle or more complex guidance systems such as those that read the surrounding environment to direct a vehicle.
Consulting body:
Department for Transport
Document:
Topic:
Transport labour market and skills - call for ideas
May, 2022
Urban Transport Group response to the DfT's Call for Ideas and Evidence on Transport labour market and skills.
Consulting body:
Department for Transport
Topic:
Mobility as a Service Code of Practice
May, 2022
UTG response to the Department for Transport consultation on a Mobility as a Service Code of Practice.
Consulting body:
Department for Transport
Topic:
Public Transport in towns and cities
March, 2022
UTG evidence to Lords Built Environment Committee on Public Transport in Towns and Cities
Consulting body:
Built Environment Committee
Topic:
National Bus Strategy - one year on
March, 2022
UTG response to Transport Select Committee inquiry on the National Bus Strategy.
Consulting body:
Transport Select Committee
Topic:
WISP call for evidence
February, 2022
Consulting body:
Network Rail
Topic:
Creating a Road Collision Investigation Branch
December, 2021
UTG response to DfT proposal to create a Road Collision Investigation Branch to investigate the causes of road traffic collisions.
Consulting body:
Department for Transport
Topic:
Future of Transport regulatory review: regulatory sandboxes
November, 2021
UTG response to DfT consultation on the use of regulatory sandboxes to support innovation in surface transport.
Consulting body:
Department for Transport
Topic:
Future of transport regulatory review: zero emission vehicles
November, 2021
Consulting body:
Department for Transport
Topic:
Concessionary Travel Covid-19 Recovery Strategy - Consultation: call for evidence
September, 2021
Consulting body:
Department for Transport
Topic:
Pages
Response to Queen’s Speech: Transport Bill is opportunity to extend benefits of local control of transport
Tuesday, May 10, 2022
Responding to the Queen’s Speech, Jonathan Bray, Director of the Urban Transport Group, said:
Topic:
Urban Transport Authorities respond to DfT funding announcement
Monday, April 4, 2022
Responding to today's DfT's funding announcement Chair of the Urban Transport Group, Laura Shoaf, said:
New transport technologies must promote equity and inclusion to deliver just transition to net zero, says report
Thursday, March 17, 2022
Embracing new technologies will play a key role in decarbonising transport and help towns and cities to achieve net zero emissions – but steps must also be taken to ensure that the way new technologies are applied does not marginalise some groups or reinforce existing inequalities.
Topic:
Urban Transport Group welcomes Government’s extension of COVID funding for public transport
Tuesday, March 1, 2022
The Urban Transport Group has today welcomed the announcement that Government will extend its COVID funding support for local transport for a further six months.
Topic:
Transport authorities call for powers to ensure e-scooter services meet local needs
Tuesday, March 1, 2022
The Urban Transport Group is calling for a new national enabling framework to give locally accountable transport authorities the option to regulate key aspects of micromobility rental services (like e-scooters) in line with local needs and circumstances, in a new report, published today.
Topic:
Nearly one in three urban bus trips – some 300 million journeys - could be lost without further financial support from Government, report warns
Thursday, February 17, 2022
The number of bus passengers in city regions outside London could be up to 30% lower than before the pandemic – a “similar magnitude” to the direct impact which COVID-19 itself has had on demand - if the Government does not extend its financial support for the bus.
Topic:
Urban Transport Group responds to Levelling Up White Paper
Wednesday, February 2, 2022
The Urban Transport Group, the network of UK transport authorities, has today responded to the Government’s Levelling Up White Paper.
Topic:
Greening urban freight key to decarbonising city regions, says report
Thursday, January 20, 2022
The greening of urban freight and logistics is central to decarbonisation strategies both nationally and within city regions, says a new report by the Urban Transport Group.
Topic:
City regions must help shape rail reform to ensure benefits reach more people and places
Monday, December 13, 2021
City regions must ‘have a seat at the table’ when decisions are taken about how the Government’s reform of the railways is implemented – a new statement from the Urban Transport Group urges.
Urban Transport Group responds to new Plan B rules on COVID
Thursday, December 9, 2021
The Urban Transport Group has responded to the Government’s decision to move to Plan B rules to slow the spread of the Omicron variant of COVID.
Topic: